Fluid control means for automatic cleansing apparatus



y 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,554,566

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22,1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 j I I' i I E 1 u f 20 J l TI J l fiTVEFZ/UFE PErEefol/0 00 6220/101 Lon/5e [em are.

May 29, 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL 2,554,566

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 22, 1945 .r/lrll/lllll' g m Pin-e [bu/m0 6220/101 Luv/2Buys-5e.

May 29, 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,554,565

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 194 Sheets-Sheet 3 h V517 [UP 5 Psi-5: 50/9190 622 0/1/01 Z urn/5e(Eb/vase y 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,554,566

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22,1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Parse 00 920 Gino/10F lam/2 ,envase' Patented May29, 1951.

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Peter EduardGeldhof and'Luther Ringer, St. Joseph, Mich., assignors to NineteenHundred Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of New YorkApplication January 22, 1945, Serial No. 573,880

5 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to an automatic cleansing apparatus, and moreparticularly to a suds water recirculatory system for such apparatus forthe discharge of suds water after a certain step in the cleansingoperation, and for returning the suds Water from a temporary storagearrangement to the apparatus at another step in the operation of theautomatic cleansing apparatus.

The present invention is particularly advantageously adapted for use inconnection with laundering operations in which the articles to belaundered are subject to a washing operation in an automatic Washing,rinsing and drying apparatus in which heated water is employedcontaining soap and other suitable detergents for the furtherance of thelaundering operation. It is highly desirable to save the prepared soapywater for the performance of other laundering operations while theadditional steps of rinsing and drying the first batch of launderedarticles are taking place.

Various arrangements have been provided heretofore for the storage ofthe suds water after the first step in the washing cycle and, forinstance, in our patent application Serial No. 523,238, filed February21, 1944, now Patent No. 2,498,885 issued February 28, 1950, on anAutomatic Cleansing Apparatus, we have described and claimed anarrangement including a storage tank placed adjacent the fluid containerof the washing apparatus with a heating coil in the auxiliary containerfor maintaining the temperature of the suds water. This arrangement alsoincludes a two-way valve mounted in the base of the washing machine witha hose leading to the auxiliary storage tank and a second hose leadingto a drain. The storage tank is also provided with an auxiliary pumpwhich is connected to the main fluid container of the washing machinethrough another hose for returning the suds water to the main container.

We have also described in our patent application Serial No. 512,580,filed December 2, 1943, Patent No. 2,391,561, dated December 25, 1945,entitled Drain Mechanism, a washing machine placed adjacent an auxiliarystorage tank and a drain with an oscillatable gooseneck dischargearrangement from the Washing machine so that the suds water may bedischarged into the auxiliary storage tank or to the drain. In thisarrangement also there was provided an auxiliary pump placed adjacentthe storage means and connected to the fluid container of the washing.

machine through a hose for returning the suds water to the washingmachine.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an improvedautomatic ccleansing apparatus of the type mentioned above which isefficient in operation, and which is so constructed as to facilitate themanufacture thereof.

It is afurther object of our invention to provide an improved automaticcleansing apparatus in which the the suds water, after one of the stepsin the operation of the apparatus, may be discharged into the storagetank while the rinse water, after other operations, may be discharged toa drain.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an improved controlarrangement including an automatic timer switch for controlling theoperation of various steps in the washing, rinsing and drying ofarticles of clothing.

It is a still further object of our inventionto provide an improvedmethod of carrying out the steps of washing, rinsing and at leastpartially drying articles of clothing.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparentfrom the following description referring to the accompanying draw-,

ings, and the features of novelty which characteriz'e our invention willbe pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed to and formFigure 3 is a side View of a two-Way valve and; storage pump which isemployed in the construction of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional side elevation of the storage motor ofFigure 3; V

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the two-way valve employed inthe construction of Figures 1 through 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the construction of Figure 5taken on a plane ninety degrees disposed from that of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the auxiliary pump.-

construction of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the schedule of operationof our improved cleansing apparatus;

Figure 9 is a diagram of the control circuit for operating our improvedcleansing apparatus to produce the schedule illustrated in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view illustrating the control knob and dial of the timerswitch.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings we have illustrated anautomatic washing, rinsing and drying machine indicated generally by thereference numeral I0. The washing machine it includes a cabinet II whichincludes a top panel l2 in which is disposed a cover 13 for facilitatingthe introduction of the articles to be laundered to the interior of themachine.

A control knob I4 for the purpose of setting 1 or adjusting a suitabletiming mechanism which directs the operation of the washing'ma'chine inthe performance of its cycle of operation is disposed adjacent onecorner of the top panel 12 of the apparatus. This timer mechanism whichmay be manually set by the control knob M will be described in furtherdetail in connection with Figure 9. The timer mechanism itself ismounted in the cabinet I l directly under the top panel l2. A secondcontrol l5 by means of which the operator may select the desiredtemperature of the cleansing fluid which is supplied by a suitable mixervalve (not shown) to be employed in the laundering operation ispositioned in another corner of the top panel l2 of the cabinet I i. Thecontacts of the control mixer valve will be described in connectionwiththe circuit of Figure 9.

Theautomatic washing machine In is generally of the type described andclaimed in detail in our copending application Serial No. 491,618entitled Automatic Washing, Rinsing and Drying Machine, filed June 21,1943, now Patent No. 2,521,159, issued September 5, 1950, and referencemay be had to this application for a detailed description of the washingmachine struc ture.

The automatic washing machine [6 includes a container or tub I! in whichthe clothes to be washed are inserted through the cover [3 for carryingout the washing, rinsing and drying steps. The cleansing fluid isintroduced through 'a mixer valve, not shown, which is adapted toprovide water of a predetermined temperature from suitable supplysources of hot and cold water, depending upon the setting of the controlknob I 5 in the top panel 12 of the cabinet II by the operator at thebeginning of the operation. A'motor l8 mounted in the cabinet llofthewashing machine actuates a reciprocating agitator and a rotatableperforated drying basket (not shown) both of which are mounted in thetub ll through a suitable transmission l9 and any suitable drivingconnection with which'is associated a plurality of automaticallyoperated shifter mechanisms. For a detail description of these featuresof the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine, reference may behad to our above mentioned copending application Serial No. 491,618. 7

In order to provide an arrangement for removing the water from thecontainer [1, it is provided at its base with a port which inturn'connectsto the intake side of a suitable pump 2| through a hose 22.It will be understood that the pump will be operated at the proper timefrom the motor [8 which is connected to the rotatable impeller of thepump through a belt 23. The outlet of the pump 21 is connected to oneend of a suitable hose connection 24, the opposite end of which isconnected to an integral two-way valve and auxiliary pump constructionindicated generally by the numeral 25.

As has been brought out above, it isknown that it is desirable to savethe suds water particularly after the first batch of clothes has beenwashed so as to conserve both hot water and detergents which areincluded with the suds. In order, therefore, to provide a veryconvenient arrangement for saving the suds after the washing cycle andalso to return the suds at the proper time previous to the secondwashing cycle as well as provide a simple arrangement for dischargingrinse water to a drain, we provide our two-way valve and auxiliary pumpconstruction 25 which is illustrated in further detail in Figures 3through 7. Referring to Figure 3, the twoway valve includes a casing 26which has an inlet or first port 21, a second port or first outlet 2-33and a third port or second outlet 29. The two way valve may be of anysuitable construction, it being understood that it is of such a typethat fluid may be selectively discharged either from one outlet or fromthe other outlet of the twoway valve. Referring to Figure 5, within thecasing-26 of the two-way valve is placed a second casing 30 and anintegral side wall portion 3| so as to divide the valve into twoseparate chambers 32 and 33. The inlet 2! connects to the centralportion of a tubular member 36 and the ends of the tubular member 36 areprovided with flexible diaphragms 3 and It will be understood that thefiexible diaphragm 34 is operated through an operating member 36 whichis pivotally mounted at 3? and is connected to a link 38 at its oppositeend. The other diaphragm 35 is operated through an operating member 38which is pivotally mounted at one end at 36 and which is connected tothe movable armature i! of an operating solenoid 32. It will be notedthat the link member 38 is connected to the operating arm 39 through aconnection as. A spring member 64 is provided for biasing the diaphragmin a position opposite to that 'as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Asis shown in Figure 6, the chamber 32 connects to the third port 29 whilethe chamber 33 connects to the second port 28. It will, therefore, beunderstood that when the valve is in the position as is illustrated inFigures 5 and 6, the fluid discharged from the tub which passes throughthe hose 2 and into the intake port 21 of the two-way valve will bedischarged out through the third port 29. For a further detaileddescription cf the operation of this valve reference may be had to ourcopending application, Serial No. 513,138 filed December 6, 1943, nowPatent No. 2,414,196, issued January 14, 19 i! and entitled DrainMechanism.

Customary facilities in most homes where automatic washing, rinsing anddrying machines may be advantageously employed, include a stationary tubconstruction having a pair of tubs 46 and' li as is illustrated inFigures 1 and 2. It is therefore convenient to mount our integraltwo-Way valve and auxiliary pump mechanism on a wall member'48 whichdivides the two tubs. As will be illustrated in Figure l, adrain 56 ofthe tub 3'! may be left uncovered'while a drain of the tub 46 may beprovided with a stopper 50. It will therefore be seen that when thetwoway valve isoperated so that the second port 23 is in communicationwith the intake the fluid from the container of the washing machine willbe discharged to the tub i? and into the drain 49 while, when thetwo-way valve is energized to its opposite position, the fluid willpass, from the intake port 2? of the two-way valve out through the thirdport 29 so as to discharge the water into the tub 5,6 which has thestopper 56 therein so that the fluid may be saved. It is therefore intothis tub that the operator, if he so desires, may save the sudswatermerelyby inserting the stopper 50 in the drain of the tub 46.

In order to provide an arrangement for returning the suds water from thetub 46 to the washing machine container 11, we provide a com ve'nientarrangement including an auxiliary pump construction 51 which has a port52 which is tightly bolted to a flange on the third port 29 of thetwo-way valve. The pump 5| is of any suitable construction such ashaving a port 55 at the lower end of the tubular housing 5! of the pumpwith an impeller 56 which is operated through a drive shaft 51 which inturn may be rotated in any suitable manner such as by an electric motor58 which is mounted on top of the pump housing 5|. As will be seen inFigure 7, the bottom portion 59 of the pump housing may be removed so asto clean out the pumpor change the impeller.

The pump housing 5! may be attached to the wall 48 01 the stationarytubs in any suitable manner and as will be seen in Figure 3, a bracketconstruction 66 is attached to the pump housing and includes a screw 6|for supporting the bracket on the wall 48.

It will be seen from the above description that with our two-way valveand auxiliary pump connected to the end of a single hose 24, the sudswater when the valve is energized may be forced from the inlet 21 of thethree-way valve through the outlet 29 and then through the pump housing5i into the tub 46. Also since it is not ordinarily necessary to savethe cooler rinse water, the two-way valve may be deenergized or moved inany other suitable manner so that the rinse water will be dischargedfrom the inlet 2'! of the two-way valve through the outlet 28 to the tub41 and into the drain 49. Also in any suitable step in the washingoperation, such as, at the beginning of the washing of a second batch ofclothes, the pump motor 58 may be energized thus pumping the water fromthe tub 46 through the pump into the third port 29 and out through theport 21 through the hose 24, and through the pump 2| which will, ofcourse, be inactive during this cycle of operation and through the port20 into the container ll. Any suitable control arrangement may, ofcourse, be employed to operate this auxiliary pump and two-way valve ofour invention, and we shall describe below an automatic controlarrangement for controlling the operation of the pump and two-way valveso that the two-way valve is operated to discharge the suds into the tub46 and which is also operated to discharge the rinse water into the tub41 and into the drain and which also controls the energization of themotor 58 so as to withdraw the water from the tub 46 and discharge itinto the container ll of the washing machine previous to the commencingof the washing of a second batch of clothes.

Electrical control circuit The control circuit which is shown in Figure9 will be described with the aid of the schedule illustrated in Figure 8for a complete cycle of the operation of the cleansing apparatus and thecontrol circuit will be described particularly in its relation to theoperation of the suds water recirculatory system, and for a furtherdetailed description of this type of control for controlling theoperation of the other steps in the washing, rinsing and drying,reference may be had to our copending application, Serial No. 491,618which has been mentioned above.

It will be seen from reference to the schedule of Figure 8 that thewashing cycle is commenced by the introduction of mixed and hot waterthrough the mixing valve by the operator setting the control knob I5. Itwill be noted from the schedule of Figure 8 that the first twooperations are the operation of the two-way valve' and storage motor,but, of course, this is on the assumption that suds have already beenplaced into the tub 46 or storage container from a previous cycle ofoperation, and let us assume for the present description that theoperator is commencing the washing and rinsing for the first time, andtherefore it is necessary to fill the tub first from the hot and coldwater mains through the mixed water and hot water valve. As will bedescribed in further detail below in relation,

to the electrical circuit of Figure 9, the operator then sets the dialI4 which is illustrated in Figure II] for the number of minutes that theoperator wishes to have the clothes washed, and it will beseen that inthe part of the dial marked Wash the dial is marked off in minutes.float closes the top switch, the machine motor 18 as well as the timermotor of the time control switch, which will be described below, areenergized and the agitator operates for a predetermined number ofminutes. After this operation the extractor is operated to remove thesuds water, and it will be seen that the two-way valve is also operatedfor two minutes so as to cause the suds to be discharged into thestorage tub 46. After two minutes a spray rinse comes on and the two-wayvalve is turned off so that the water from the spray rinse is not savedbut is discharged into the drain 49. The extractor is energized for atotal of about four minutes and after that operation, the rinse comeson, and when suflicient water has been introduced so as to close the topcontact on the top float, the

agitator is again energized for a period of two minutes. After that timethe extractor again opeartes to remove the water and at least partiallydry the clothes and after operation the timer is permanentlydeenergized, and it requires a manual setting of the timer construction,in a manner which will be described below, to again cause the cleansingmachine to operate.

Referring again to Figure 9 of the drawings, a timer unit indicatedgenerally by the numeral 65 is provided which may be of any suitabletype and in the construction illustrated in the drawings it includes aplurality of disks numbered 66 through 72, inclusive, which disks aremounted on a timer shaft 73 which is, in turn, rotated by a timer motor74. It will be seen that the knob I4 is provided on the opposite end ofthe shaft and is the knob which extends through the top of the machineas is illustrated in Figure 1. Also in Figure 10 is shown the dial whichinforms the operator where the hand control [4 is positioned.

In Figure 9 it will also be seen that there is diagrammaticallyillustrated the hand control l5 which controls the setting of the mixingdial for controlling the temperature of the water which is introducedinto the apparatus. The water control includes cams l5 and 76 mounted onthe cam shaft 'H for operating switches 18 and I9, respectively, and letus assume that the operator has so positioned the hand control switchthat both the switches 18 and 18 are closed as is illustrated in Figure9.

i The control of the machine is operated through a source of supplyindicated by the When the top",

numerals 8B and GI, and it will be seen that the source of supply 89 isconnected to-lineS-BZ and 83 to the solenoid controls 84 and -85,respectively, which control the operation of the valve. The circuit forthe hot water valve may then be traced to the switch 18,-a conductor 85to a switch 81 which is operated by the-cam -88 and whichis identifiedas the hot water cam. The circuit may then be tracedto conductors Stand89 to a lower contact 96 of a float control switch 9|. It will beunderstood that the float control switch 9| is placed adjacent the topof the container so that when the float -92 is raised by the water, thelower contact Qfi-of the top float will be opened. It will, of course,be seen that by controlling the water intake through the top float themachine will never be filled to'too higha level, assuming the top floatswitch operates satisfactorily. The circuit may then be traced throughconductors 93 and $4 through a cam contact 95 which switch. The circuitis then connected to the other side of the source of'supply to aconductor 96. Since all. the controls pass from the concluster 96 to theswitch 95, it will be seen that whenever the operator moves the handleoutwardly or to the right as is illustrated in Figure 9, all circuitswill be deenergized and thus the operator may mechanically move thetimer shaft without causing any arcing on any of the automatic timerswitches. The mix valve circuit may also be traced from the mixing valve85 through the switch 19 and a conductor 9; to a switch 98 which isoperated by the cam is and entitled Mix water. It will be seen that theremainder of the circuit is similar to that already traced above.

When suflicient water has been introduced into the container I! of thecleansing machine, the top float will break the lower contact circuitand deenergize the hot and mix valve and will make contact with itsupper contact 99 which closes the circuit of the washing machine motorI8 and the timer motor M. It will be understood that the top floatswitch is so made that-the top contact closes before the bottom contactis opened. These circuits may be traced from one side of the line 88through the conductor 82, the two motors in parallel to conductors H38and IIlI to the top contact 99. The circuit may then be continuedthrough the conductors 93 and 94 through switch 95 to the other side ofthe line 8|. This will cause the timer motor to operate and rotate theshaft which opens the hot water and mix water switches 3'! and as,respectively, at the end of the washing schedule.

The float contacting its upper contact 99 will simultaneously close thecircuit for the agitator solenoid and this may be traced from one sideof the line 8! through the conductors 82 and 83 to a solenoid entitled Aon Figure 9, through a conductor IE2 to a switch Hi3 which is operatedby the agitator cam El. A circuit may then be traced through a conductorI94 to an upper contact it? of the bottom float through its contact arm,the conductor lfil, the top contact of the top float 99 through the topfloat movable contact arm through the conductor 93 to the other side ofthe line El. The agitator will continue to operate for twenty minutes asis seen from the schedule in Figure 8.

After the agitator has operated a suitable length of time, such as abouttwenty minutes, the timer motor will have rotated the cam shaft'13sufflciently to-open the agitator cam disk contact is a manuallycontrolled and close the extractor disk contact marked I05 in Figure 9.After the top contact of them float opens the motor control circuit willbe opened but the extractor switch I05 close 'a parallel circuit for themachine motor and time switch motor. Similarly the pump solenoid markedP in Figure 9 is energized and this circuit may be traced from theconductor 83 through the solenoid pump P, conductor I96 which in turnconnects to a conductor I00, and through a conductor Iil'I, theextractor and pump switch I05 t0 the other side of the line 8 I.

It will be noted from the cutouts in the cams 69 and TI that the two-wayvalve switch is closed at the .same moment that the pump and extractorswitch is closed after the washing period. Thus the circuit for thetw0-way valve maybe traced from the conductor 83, the primary I08 of thestepped down two-way valve transformer marked T1, through a conductorI09 to the twoway valve switch. The circuit may then be traced throughthe conductor 94 to the other side (if the power line.

As will be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the two-way valve and motorare placed in such a position that they might easily be contacted by theoperator and in order to have a very low voltage in this position so asnot to shock the openator in case he touches a live line with his wethand, the transformer T1 may be placed in the base of the washingmachine under the casing I I and thus only a low voltage will be acrossthe lines Ill} and lit. which are connected to the two-way valve.

In order that the extractor will not operate while there is still waterabove the bottom float it will be seen that the extractcrsolenoid markedE in Figure 9 is connected from the conductor 83 and a conductor Hitothe bottom contact N2 of the bottom float. The circuit may thenbe tracedthrough the conductor it! to the extractor switch and then to the otherend of the line.

After the twoway valve has been energized for two minutes in theschedule as is illustrated l in Figure 8, the two-way valve isdeenergized since the cam switch'of the two-way valve will openthe-switch. At the same time thetimer will close the spray rinse switchI I2 by having the cam follower drop into the low part on the cam. Intimers of the type which are or dinarily manufactured for washingmachine and which have operation of a predeterminednumber of degrees ina stepped manner, it is ordinarily impractical to have a switch closefor less than oneminuteand since it is desirable to only allow the sprayrinse to be on for a relatively short length of time, a mechanical'ti-medelay I l3is providedfor allowing the spray rinseto only be on for abouttenseconds. Thus the circuit for the spray rinse may be traced throughthe mixing solenoid valve 8 5 to the lower contact;

I I4 of the sprayrinse, through the conductor 88 to the bottom contact98 of the top float SI and then throughthe conductor 93 to the otherside of the line. At the end of. one minute the spray rinse switch willopen circuit and thepumpwill continue to operate so long as theextractor switch IE5 is closed. However, assuming that the pump hasdrawn sufiicient water out of the container so as to close the bottomcontact on the bottom float, the extractor solenoid IE will thenoperateso. as to rotatethe rotatable basket.

After .the extractorcam switch 'I 95 has been closed for six minutes aswill be seen'in the schedule of Figure-8, theitimerimotor will haveoperated a suflicient length of time to open the extractor and pumpswitch I05.

After the extractor switch is opened, it will be seen from the scheduleof Figure 8 that the rinse and agitator cam switches will be closed. Bythis time the hump on the spray rinse cam (56 will have moved under thecam follower of the switch H2 andcause it to close its upper contact andthe rinse circuit may be traced in the manner described above inconnection with the spray rinse. However, since the cam switch I I2 wasmoved upwardly the mechanical follower I I3 will not interfere with thisoperation. As has been mentioned above the agitator switch I03 is alsoclosed but since the agitator'is connected in series with the topcontacts of both the bottom and top floats, the agitator will not beginto op.- erate until the rinse has been operated sufficiently long tofill the tub until both the top contacts of the top and bottom floatoperate. After the agitator has run for two minutes and it will be seenthat this will happen while the cam follower drops into the short valleyin the agitator cam, the agitator will be deenergized and at the sametime the extractor will again be energized by closing the switch I05. Itwill of course be understood that during the time the agitator andextractor are operating, the motor and time switch motor will beoperated through the same circuits as have already been described above.

It will be understood that by our improved circuit of connecting theagitator through both the top contacts of the top and bottom floats theagitator is prevented from being energized by any inductive kick due tobreaking the motor circuit at the end of the 26 minute period.

It will be understood that after the extractor has operated for a periodof about six minutes the time switch will be forced to move to open theagitator circuit as well as open all the remainder of the time switchcircuits. This will cause the time switch to be completely deenergizedand the automatic cleansing machine will not again operate until thetime switch is manually reset.

Suds recirculation control It will be recalled from the above thatduring the previous washing cycle the suds were passed into the storagetub 45, and assuming that the operator has previously placed the plug 50over the drain, the operator will now have saved a considerable quantityof suds which may be used after a second batch of clothes is introducedinto the cleansing machine. Referring to Figure 10 the control knob atthe conclusion of the first complete cycle of operation will be in aposition between the extractor and the storage motor portions of thedial and if the operator desires to return or recirculate the suds backinto the container H, the control knob will be moved until the pointeris opposite the storage motor portion of the dial. This will cause amovable contact M5 to drop into the cutout portion of the cam 72 markedstorage motor in Figure 9. This will energize the storage pump motorthrough a conductor $3, a primary winding H6 of the transformer T2through a conductor I H, a switch H5, conductor 89 to the bottom contact90 of the top float and from there the circuit may be traced through theconductor 93 to the other side of the source of supply.

It will be understood that the transformer T2 is employed for the samereason that the transformer T1 is employed so that only a low voltagewill be impressed across the control wires which lead from the cleansingmachine to the motor 58 which is susceptible of being contacted by theoperator.

After the operator has drained all the water from the storage tub 46 thecontrol knob may again be turned until it is within the range identifiedas Washing in the dial of Figure 10. It will be understood that sinceall the water is not removed during the first extraction cycle, the sudswhich are returned from the storage will not completely fill the tub andthe remainder will be filled from the hot and cold water supply,depending upon the setting of the hand control switch I5. Uponsufficient water being introduced to raise the top float until itcontacts the top contact, the agitator solenoid A will again beenergized and the washing cycle will again be repeated in the mannerdescribed above.

It will be understood that after the second cycle of washing operationsif the operator desires to dispose of the suds which have beentransferred into the tub 46, this may be accomplished by merely openingthe drain by removing the drain cap 50.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theap-- pended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for theperformance of washing, rinsing and extracting steps, said containerhaving an outlet, a hose having one end connected to said outlet, atwo-way valve adapted for mounting adjacent a reservoir and a drain,said two-way valve having a first port connected to said hose, a secondport connected to said drain and a third port connected to saidreservoir so that fluid passing through said first port may beselectively discharged through said second port to the drain and throughsaid third port to the reservoir or from said reservoir through saidfirst port to said container, said valve having operating means forselectively controlling the setting of said two-way valve, and meansincluding automatic time switch means controlling the sequence ofoperation of said apparatus for energizing said two-way valve after thewashing step so as to discharge the hot soapy water from said first portin said valve through said third port ond washing step so that the soapywater may be discharged from the reservoir through said third and firstports of said valve back to said container.

2. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for theperformance of washing, rinsing and extracting steps, said containerhaving an outlet, a hose having one end connected to said outlet, atwo-way valve adapted for mounting adjacent a reservoir and a drain,said twoway valve having a first port connected to said hose, a secondport connected to said drain and a third port connected to saidreservoir so that fluid passing through said valve first port ma beselectively discharged through said second port to the drain and throughsaid third port to the reservoir, s'aidvalve having operating means forselectively controlling the setting of said two-way valve, meansincluding automatic time switch means controlling the sequence ofoperation'of said apparatus for energizing said two-way valve after thewashing step so as to discharge the hot soapy water from said first portin said valve through said third port for discharge to the reservoir,and for deenergizing said valve so as to discharge rinse water from saidport in said valve through said second port for discharge into a drain,said means including said automatic time switch being arranged to againenergize said twoway valve before a second washing step so thata soapywater may be discharged from the reser-' voir through said third andfirst ports of said valve back to said container, and means includingsaid automatic time switch means for ener: gizing a pump to force thesoapy Water back through said two-way valve to said container.

3. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for theperformance of Wash ing, rinsing and extracting steps, said containerhaving an outlet, a hose having one end connected to said outlet, atwo-way valve adapted for mounting adjacent a reservoir and a drain,said two-way valve having a first port connected to said hose, a secondport connected to said drain and a third port connected to saidreservoir so that fluid passing through said valve first port may beselectivelydischarged through said second port to the drain and throughsaid third port to the reservoir, said valve having cperating means forselectively controlling the setting of said two-way valve, meansincluding automatic time switch means controlling the sequence ofoperation of said apparatus for energizing said two-way valve after thewashing step so as to dis charge the hot soapy water from said firstport in said valve through said third port for discharge to thereservoir, and for deenergizing said valve so as to discharge rinsewater from said port in said valve through said second port fordischarge into a drain, said means including said automatic time switchbeing arranged to again energize said two-way valve before a secondwashing step so that a soapy water may be discharged from the reservoirthrough said third and first ports of said valve back to said container,and means including said automatic time switch means for energizing apump to force the soapy water back through said two-way valve to saidcontainer, said automatic time switch means being adapted to be manuallyset to effect operation thereof so as to energize said two-way valve andsaid pump to return the soapy water.

4 In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for theperformance of a suecession of steps of washing, rinsing and drying,said container having an outlet, an integral unit including a two-wayvalve and a storage pump adapted for mounting remote from saidapparatus, said two-way valve having a firstport, a second port incommunication with said storage pump and with a storage chamber, and athird port adapted to discharge to a drain, means including a hose forconnecting said container to said first port of said valve, and meansincluding automatic time switch means for energizing said two-way valveafter the washing step so that soapy water discharged from saidcontainer will pass through said valve and first and second ports to thestorage chambenand for deenergizing said two-way valve so that rinsewater may be discharged through said first and third ports of said valveto a drain, and for again energizing said two-way valve and forenergizing said storage pump to return soapy water from the storagechamber to said container before another washing cycle. 7

5. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for theperformance of a success io n of steps of washing, rinsing and drying,said container having an outlet, an integral unit including a two-wayvalve and a storage pump adapted for mounting remote from said appa--ratus, said two-way valve having a first port, a second port incommunication with said storage pump and with a storage chamber, and athird port adapte-d to discharge to a drain, means including a hose forconnecting said container to said first port of said valve, and meansincluding automatic time switch means for energizing said two-way valveafter the washing step so that soapy "water discharged from saidcontainer will pass through said valve and first and second ports to thestorage chamber, for deenergizing said two way valve so that rinse watermay be discharged through said first and third ports of said valve to adrain, and for again energizing said two-way valve and for energizingsaid storage motor to return soapy water from the storage to saidcontainer before another washing cycle, said automatic timer means beingmanually settable to efiect operation of said last mentionedenergization of said two-way valve and energization of said storagemotor.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF. LUTHER RIN GER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 1,145,858 Brandwood July fi,1915 1,355,797 MacIntyre Oct. 12, 1920 1,670,611 Couch .d May 22, 19282,019,766 Peterson Nov. 5, 1935 2,161,203 Soderholm June 6, 19392,23,748 Chayie Apr. 1, 1941 2,276,147 Birr Mar. 10, 1942 2,331,897 DyerOct. 19, 1943 2,391,561 Geldhof Dec. 25, 1945

